Core Viewpoint - The launch of the "Self-Regulatory Management Platform for Acquiring Outsourcing Services" by the China Payment and Clearing Association marks a significant upgrade in the management of payment acquiring outsourcing, aiming to transition the industry from chaotic growth to standardized development [1][3][4]. Group 1: Platform Features and Functions - The new platform integrates various systems for managing outsourcing institutions, including registration, risk information sharing, and self-regulatory evaluation, enhancing the efficiency of industry self-regulation [3][4]. - Key functionalities of the platform include the ability for outsourcing institutions to register, submit business data, and update information, while also allowing acquiring institutions to manage and evaluate their outsourcing partners [3][5]. - The platform provides API technical interface specifications for acquiring institutions with numerous outsourcing partners, facilitating efficient data reporting [3][4]. Group 2: Industry Context and Challenges - The payment acquiring outsourcing sector has faced significant issues such as disordered market entry, fragmented cooperation information, and hidden risk transmission, leading to persistent violations like multiple merchants per device and fraudulent merchant activities [6][7]. - The association has previously established a registration management mechanism for outsourcing institutions to enhance market transparency and combat illegal payment behaviors since 2020 [6][7]. - Despite improvements, challenges remain, including ongoing issues with telemarketing and online sales of POS machines, indicating that some outsourcing practices still lack proper oversight [9][10]. Group 3: Future Directions and Recommendations - The association plans to continue strengthening self-regulatory management of outsourcing institutions to promote compliance and sustainable development within the industry [8]. - Experts suggest that future measures could include establishing automatic links between consumer complaints and outsourcing risk information to improve problem tracing efficiency [11]. - There is a call for acquiring institutions to utilize AI and big data to enhance risk control models and identify abnormal marketing behaviors [11].